Publican and Pharisee         2/12/2006 Ocala, FL           

Ten weeks before Pascha, the Parable of the Publican and Pharisee is heard in all the Orthodox Churches throughout the world. The Holy Fathers of our Holy Church, many centuries ago, chose this parable from the Gospel of St. Luke, to serve as an introduction to the Holy Lenten period, which commences in just three weeks.

Through this Parable, the Church makes a fervent plea to all Christians --- to take stock of ourselves, in order that we do not endanger our spiritual counterpart, our soul, by the egotism, the selfishness, the pride and arrogance of today's Pharisee, who ostentatiously thanked God in front of the Altar area, where he was highly visible, that he was not a sinner like other people, nor even like the Publican, who was most humbly praying in the corner of the Temple. To be sure, in the eyes of God he was condemned.

Moreover, the Church strives to keep us spiritually alert --- so as to recognize the supreme virtue of the Publican, a tax collector, whose soul was filled with contrition and humility, was elevated in the eyes of God, and consequently saved.

Both these persons, -- the Publican and the Pharisee, are representative of two large segments of our society. The one, chooses to follow in the steps of the Pharisee, and continues to sow the seeds of arrogance, egotism, selfishness, self-pride, envy, hate and contempt. The other, emulates the Publican --- and makes every effort to offset the evils of the Pharisee, and thereby brings a kind of balance to society.

How different --- how much more noble people would be, if they chose to remember such axiomatic phrases, like the one, with which the Lord concluded His teaching in today's Parable! "He who exalts himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself, shall be exalted!" (Luke 14:11)

I wonder if people will ever realize, that all gifts and talents come from Above, from the Father of all Lights, as St. James notes in his universal Epistle, and as we hear it in the last prayer of our Liturgy. God gave us intellect --- and also the power to achieve, so that accordingly, we may make our contribution to humankind.

But, when a person is distant from this recognition, that God is the Giver of all gifts, he or she tends to be self-centered, and I may say even selfish, and that God's gifts are used for strictly personal gain or personal glory. Distant from God, people tend to be arrogant and falsely proud.

For instance, if a person has the gift of intellect, and possesses more knowledge than others, this person tends to exalt himself or herself. I personally think that people in this category never think, even for a moment, that a slight accident -- or a drop of blood in the brain, could terminate their intellectual power, and even their life in a split second.

In other instances, there are vain people, who are pathologically proud of their comeliness. But, this physical beauty is, as we commonly say -- skin deep, because, if it is not marred through illness, or an accident, it is most assuredly transformed, as the years take their physical toll.

Very often, we see people boasting, or flaunting their wealth, or their high position of power and authority. But, of what duration are these, in the face of a sudden depression --- an adverse situation, or a radical change in policy?

Since then, all the material things, and the externals cannot assure us permanently, or insure us, I believe, that we can better understand the meaning of our Lord's words: "The person who exalts himself or herself, shall be abased!"

On the other hand, the person, who humbles himself or herself shall be exalted! If we have never seen proof of this, perhaps it may perhaps be due to the fact, that we pay no attention to humble people, only because we are too pre-occupied in trying to gain the grace or favor of people in higher positions, or those in the limelight.

This happens, because we may be oblivious to the true and lasting values in life. We seem to attach too much importance on people of wealth and social position, --- and accordingly, we set our sights to come under their influence.

The Publican of today's Parable, similar to Zaccheus the Publican, of whom we spoke a couple of weeks ago, was also a miserable and wretched soul. As tax collector, he had virtually drained the people of their blood. But, there came that unique and wonderful, soul-saving psychological moment, when he conscientiously reviewed her ledger of his personal liger, and submitting the voice of his conscience, he made the firm decision to right all the wrongs, which he had committed. He about-faced from the road of arrogance and deceit, to pursue the road of repentance, humility and salvation.

Cognizant of his many deficiencies, and his sinful life, we find him now in a remote corner of the Temple, with his head deeply bowed, and pounding his chest, repeating over and over: "O Lord, have mercy on me., a sinner!"

This sincere and heartfelt admission of his sinful life, converted him, and made him great in the eyes of God. His humility brought him glory and greatness -- but above all, his personal salvation. The Publican manifested his total humility. He readily applied this virtue to his life, and thereby was completely transformed.

He became a new creature, -- a new being. He was not in the least concerned with the comments, or criticism of the people, who knew him. He was shunned and ridiculed; and most assuredly he was called a hypocrite, for even praying in the Temple.

But, this did not concern him in the least. His only concern was, what God thought of him. For sure, God listened intently to that beautiful, one phrase prayer, which all of us should adopt: "O Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner!"

This soul-saving decision of the Publican testifies, that no matter how far a son or daughter has wandered, there is always the path that leads back to the Father's House. Unfortunately though, so many people wander, but make no effort to humble themselves to return.

Over the years, I have had occasion to repeat, what I think is a pointed story. Two brothers in days of old, were convicted of stealing sheep. In accordance with the law of the land, they were branded on their foreheads with the initials, S. T., that is "Sheep Thief." Thus, they were branded for life.

One of the brothers, unable to bear the stigma of disgrace, tried to bury his past, by going to a far off land. He thought, that by running away, he would be free. But, even there, people would ask him what the initials, S.T. meant. Tired of escaping, and moving from place to place -- full of bitterness, --- he is driven to his death, and buried in a forgotten grave.

The other brother, who truly repented for his misdeed, stayed where he was. He said to himself: "I cannot escape from the fact, that I stole sheep; but I will remain here, and work hard to win back the respect of my neighbors and my own"